Meghalaya to increase testing capacity to 800: Hek

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJune 5, 2020

The state government has taken steps to increase the testing capacity for COVID-19 by setting up another testing centre at Pasteur Institute, Shillong, which is likely to be completed within a week’s time.

Informing this here on Friday, Health Minister AL Hek said, “Once the testing centre at Pasteur Institute, Shillong is ready within a week, the testing capacity in the state will increase to 800 per day.” He said the Pasteur Institute will be able to conduct 400 tests in a single day.

Asked, the minister said the present testing capacity at the North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health & Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS) and the testing centre in Tura is 400.

The decision was also taken in view of the return of many citizens from red zone states across the country.

Hek informed that a total of 13,313 stranded people including students have returned to the state as on today while another 4,000 are expected to come back soon.

At present, the state is having 19 active cases after three more returnees were tested positive for the coronavirus on Wednesday. “All the 19 patients are stable and are yet to complete their quarantine period,” he said.

 The total number of positive cases has also gone up to 33 with 1 fatal loss and 13 fully recovered from the disease.

The minister informed out of 9820 persons tested for COVID-19,  9555 were found to be negative while test results for 232 are being awaited.

Hek also stated that stern action will be taken against those violating the mandatory quarantine period as per law.

Asked, the minister said that the health department is preparing advisory to be issued in case the inter-state movement is lifted. According to him, the issue related to the post lockdown was also discussed during a review meeting chaired by the Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Thursday.